Pruner cleaner

Abstract

A pruner cleaning machine scrubs gummy sap and foreign matter from pruner blades inserted into its cleaning chamber. The machine includes a motor turning a drive shaft assembly having scrubbers coupled thereon. The scrubbers have scrubbing surfaces facing each other and a central scrubber element resides between the scrubbers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shaft assembly for a pruner cleaning apparatus, comprising
 a drive shaft having a rotational axis and a length, and defining a midplane perpendicular to said rotational axis, said midplane offset from an end of said shaft by a distance between 30% and 70% of said length of said shaft, 
 at least one longitudinal engagement feature which rotates about said rotational axis of said drive shaft, 
 two scrubbers with each located on opposite sides of said midplane, each scrubber further comprising
 a scrubbing face, with said scrubbing faces of both of said scrubbers facing each other, and 
 a central aperture having a rotational drive feature complementary to said longitudinal engagement feature for coupled rotation therewith, and 
 a scrubber barrel deposited between said two scrubbers, wherein said scrubber barrel is a grooved barrel comprising a coaxial stack of chamfered washers. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one longitudinal engagement feature is integral to said drive shaft. 
     
     
       3. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one longitudinal engagement feature is integral to a drive barrel coupled to said drive shaft for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       4. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said scrubbers further comprises bristles arranged into tufts. 
     
     
       5. The shaft assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said bristles extends from said scrubbing face of at least one of said two scrubbers past said midplane of said drive shaft. 
     
     
       6. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second drive barrels each deposited on opposite sides of said midplane to define first and second mutually inward-facing end faces, with each of said mutually inward-facing end faces further comprising at least one transverse ridge. 
     
     
       7. The shaft assembly of  claim 6 , wherein at least one end face from among said first and second mutually inward-facing end faces further comprises a friction grip feature. 
     
     
       8. The shaft assembly of  claim 6 , wherein an angular offset between a first transverse ridge on said first inward-facing end face of said first drive barrel and a second transverse ridge on said second inward-facing end face of said second drive barrel enforces an undulation in a portion of a rim of at least one of said chamfered washers. 
     
     
       9. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said scrubber barrel further comprises cancellous material. 
     
     
       10. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two scrubbers further comprises cancellous material. 
     
     
       11. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two scrubbers further comprises a support hub. 
     
     
       12. The shaft assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said support hub is a conical support hub. 
     
     
       13. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two scrubbers further comprises a slipping clutch. 
     
     
       14. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said scrubber barrel further comprises a slipping clutch. 
     
     
       15. The shaft assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one drive component selected from the set of drive components consisting of:
 a sheave, a drive belt, a V-belt, a timing belt, a timing belt sheave, a silent chain, a silent chain sprocket, a dog clutch, a slipping clutch, a universal joint, a drive belt having longitudinal ribs, a drive belt having a transverse rib, and a spur gear. 
 
     
     
       16. A shaft assembly for a pruner cleaning apparatus, comprising
 a drive shaft having a rotational axis and a length, and defining a midplane perpendicular to said rotational axis, said midplane offset from an end of said shaft by a distance between 30% and 70% of said length of said shaft, 
 at least one longitudinal engagement feature which rotates about said rotational axis of said drive shaft, 
 two scrubbers with each located on opposite sides of said midplane, each scrubber further comprising
 a scrubbing face, with said scrubbing faces of both of said scrubbers facing each other, and 
 a central aperture having a rotational drive feature complementary to said longitudinal engagement feature for coupled rotation therewith, and 
 
 a scrubber barrel deposited between said two scrubbers, wherein said scrubber barrel further comprises bristles arranged into tufts. 
 
     
     
       17. The shaft assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one longitudinal engagement feature is integral to said drive shaft. 
     
     
       18. The shaft assembly of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said two scrubbers further comprises cancellous material. 
     
     
       19. The shaft assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one longitudinal engagement feature is integral to a drive barrel coupled to said drive shaft for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       20. The shaft assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one drive component selected from the set of drive components consisting of:
 a sheave, a drive belt, a V-belt, a timing belt, a timing belt sheave, a silent chain, a silent chain sprocket, a dog clutch, a slipping clutch, a universal joint, a drive belt having longitudinal ribs, a drive belt having a transverse rib, and a spur gear.